Business and community leaders send strong message to City of Lansing

Businesses, community leaders and residents have sent their message loud and clear. It’s time to transform Michigan Avenue. That message was sent in a letter from the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) to Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and the Lansing City Council. LRCC, which represents more than 1,100 Greater Lansing businesses and organizations, and more than 120 businesses and individuals endorsed the message as co-signers of the letter.

“Unfortunately, years have gone by without proper and critical investment in the infrastructure of Michigan Avenue which has negatively impacted the region’s image,” said Tim Daman, LRCC president and chief executive officer. “It is crumbling. It is falling apart and it is in desperate need of repair.”

Several new developments have been completed along the Michigan Avenue corridor in recent years, stretching from the Stadium District in downtown Lansing well into East Lansing. Current, completed and planned investment along Michigan Avenue totals more than $300 million. Investment in the infrastructure along the road has not kept pace with the rest of the development along the corridor, which leaders say is keeping Michigan Avenue from becoming a regional destination point that should be the hallmark of the entire region.

“We know Michigan Avenue should be the highlight of the region and it is not,” said Daman. “We believe the infrastructure investments we are advocating for are desperately needed to support the planned economic investment along the Michigan Avenue corridor to continue to move our region forward,”

In the letter to Mayor Bernero and Lansing City Council, LRCC cited a particular need for infrastructure upgrades on Michigan Avenue between Pennsylvania Avenue near Sparrow stretching eastward to U.S. 127.